Smoking is a significant risk factor for almost every disease. At the same time, smoking can trigger or make a preexisting disease worse. Active smoking affects well-being fast. On the other side, occasional smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke have several risks.
Cancer is one of the diseases that can result from smoking practices. In simple words, chemicals in cigarette smoke hurt your immune system, making it weaker over time. For radiation therapy in North Bengal, talk to the leading oncologist in Siliguri. Your immune system fights outside invaders, such as toxins, bacteria, fungi, viruses.
DNA is like cells’ instruction manual. It regulates the normal growths of the cell and how they function. Elements present in tobacco damage the cells' DNA (cause DNA mutation). Various types of cancer that smoking can result in. Have a read:
- Bladder cancer. It begins in the cells of the bladder, leading to bloody urine, back pain, frequent urination, painful urination, trouble urinating, and ongoing bladder infection. Cigarette smoking appears to be the leading risk factor for bladder cancer. Even exposure to secondhand smoke puts you at the same risk.
- Mouth cancer. Cancer occurs in the mouth when cells in the mouth/lips undergo abnormal DNA mutation. A lip/mouth sore that doesn’t go away, ear pain, mouth pain, red/white patch inside the mouth are some of the possible signs of mouth cancer. Tobacco smoking or any use of tobacco can increase its risk.
- Esophagus cancer. This cancer type forms in the cells that line inside the esophagus, resulting in difficulty swallowing, coughing, chest pain, unintentional weight loss, hoarseness, heartburn, and worsening indigestion. Smoking is a potential risk factor for esophagus cancer.
- Acute myeloid leukemia. Also called AML, it’s a type of blood cancer that occurs in the blood-forming cells and bone marrow. Weight loss, loss of appetite, abnormal bruising/bleeding, fatigue, fever, headaches, prone to infections are signs associated with AML. Your risk of AML gets double with active smoking.
- Throat cancer. Also called head and neck cancer, it revolves around the mouth, nose, throat, or sinuses. Hoarseness, a cough, a sore throat, a problem with swallowing, a lump in the sore that persists, weight loss, ear pain, wheezing, coughing up blood may result from throat cancer. Substance dependence like smoking or even occasional smoking can even increase the risk.
- Pancreatic cancer. Typically, pancreatic cancer starts in the cells lining the ducts of the pancreas. Dark-colored urine, abdominal pain that travels up to the back, itchy skin, fatigue, blood clots, loss of appetite, new onset of diabetes, and unintended weight loss are possible signs of pancreatic cancer.
Connect with your oncologist in Siliguri for optimum radiation therapy in NorthBengal. If you feel limiting or quitting smoking on your own is tough, receive professional assistance. Speak to your doctor for better insights into this topic. With smoking, the risks of heart disease, hormonal issues, and the worsening of an underlying disease become more prominent.
Reach out to your medical healthcare provider upon receiving such signs. Health signs indicate something is wrong with your well-being. Get diagnostic tests done under expert recommendation. Blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound, biopsy, imaging tests, cystoscope, chest X-ray, a bone scan, are some common cancer diagnostic procedures.